Day 6 - Face to Face

The Barrell papers include a note by Theodore of his conversation with Henry Beckles Gall. I have kept as true to these words in the dialogue below.
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The two men sat down face to face. Henry was looking at a world and travel weary face. His skin was sallow, showing the signs of a youth spent under the searing sun in Barbados and Demerara, at sea, and with a poor diet. He looked like the puritan that he had become in later life. Though his body showed the 61 years it had endured, Barrell still had his wits about him.

Barrell saw the boy he had known all those years ago in Demerara. He looked so much like his father, Dr Gall. He and Dr Gall had been good friends, joined together by his marriage to Dr Gall’s sister Elizabeth Beckles Gall thirty two years previously, friendship with Park Benjamin who had married another sister Polly Gall, and the business of trade. But this was a business meeting. He was looking after the interests of his wife and sister-in-law. As much as Henry was a mirror image of his father, he was a very different person. Barrell needed to be on his guard.

Barrell did not introduce the matter he wished to discuss as he knew that Henry would know exactly what needed to be discussed:

“Henry I have ever been under the impression that the estate consisted of something more than twenty-eight acres of land. I must have been sadly mistaken: I find on the inventory you have attached to the will there is mention of no more than nineteen. How can that be?”

Henry quickly grasped that part of his plan had been uncovered. He would have to see his position out.

“No Uncle Theodore, you are mistaken. The estate consists only of 19 acres.”

Barrell. “And yet I am certain that there were twenty eight acres when I visited the island in 1813. The old lady perhaps sold a portion: you perhaps can inform me?”

Gall. “I never heard of her having sold any land. But then I was only thirteen years old when I arrived in Barbados with my brother, as you well know.”

Theodore now saw his chance to suprise Henry with the information he had uncovered when he had visited

“I have seen M^rsThorp.”

Theodore noted that his nephew’s countenance changed at this information. 

“I am sure she mentioned 28 ½ acres. I should suppose no one could be better informed.”

Henry had forgotten about Mrs Thorp, who had really been a friend of Aunt Elizabeth’s sister. He realised that he would have to change tack if he was to bluff his way out of the corner his uncle had boxed him into.

“ Oh, 28 ½ acres? That is, altogether. You know Minnie and then her sister Aunt Elizabeth had 9½ acres of my father’s as heir to the original estate. 19 and 9½ make twenty eight and a half.”

“Pray how long since your father possessed lands in Barbados? He never mentioned it to me.”

“Since the death of Old Stingo’s widow. This was the Dower Land.”  

“To whom do these 9 acres now belong? Did they go to his creditors? If so I ought myself to come in for a large share.”

“My brother William, as Heir at Law has them in possession.” Henry stated firmly as if it was an incontestible fact.

Theodore sighed, as though the conversation had become too tiresome to continue. 
“Mrs Thorp and her husband both say” he said with great emphasis, “that Mary Ann Gall, whom they call Mimi, was the unquestioned owner of the whole estate: that she had the most indisputable deeds for the same: and that no heir at law either of Old Stingo or your grandfather could or ever did make any claim whatever.

Henry replied somewhat wearily, as though he was explaining the most simplest of ideas to a child. 
“True: because nothing remained to be claimed as long as the widow held her Dower. At her death that must revert to the estate, you know: and my father was heir at law.” 

“Did your father claim his right when the widow died? I was in Demerary in 1815. The doctor told me a long story about his having been shabbily threatened by his Aunt Mary Ann, who left him only a joe or two: but said nothing of the Dower land you talk about.  When I took your Aunt Peggy from Barbados in 1813, I know old Stingo’s widow was certainly long dead: and I think if the doctor had claimed the Dower I should have heard of it: for the old lady made me her confidant in all matters of business. I rather think you are premature in supposing your father even considered this Dower land as his right.”

“Ask my mother if you like. She is still well and of sound contenance. She will tell you that father had planned to come and take possession But, you know he died on the passage to England in 1819 and so never did so..

Theodore, who had been slouching at the table, drew himself up to his full magisterial height. 

“I think if such was ever his intention, he ought to have appraised his Aunt Betsy. I am pretty confident she never suspected it.”

“It is of no consequence whether she knew it or not: that could not affect my father’s rights. He might have chosen his own time to bring them forward. However, my father being dead, his rights you know descend to my brother William: and the nine acres are now his.

“That admits of a question, Henry. But I am not now disposed to argue the matter.”

Theodore had a further quibble with his nephew.

 “I would enquire what has become of the negro Lake: he was once a temporary servant of mine. I don’t find his name on the list. Did his mistress sell him, or is he dead?”

Henry was quite clear on the answer to this. Lake and his two brothers were valuable slaves.

“Lake and his two brothers belong to William.”

“ I am sure they did belong to the old lady. I presume you would make them Dower property too?”

“Yes: they formed part of the widow’s dower. They were old Peggy’s children.”

“Then pardon me if I say you cannot justify abstracting them from the gang.”

At this point the meeting came to an abrupt end as the meal was brought to their table. Theodore said grace and the pair ate in silence. Theodore was determined to have the matter settled before the Magistrates and a date was set for two weeks hence.
Day 7 - Before the Beak